Category: Travel

I just finished 10 days on the amazing Oregon Coast, although I only scored 4 of them while I was there. Great people and the 2016 Pistol River Wave Bash, a great contest made the trip! You can check my b\buddies’ and PWA pro, Phil Soltysiak’s write up on the event.

I didn’t finish as well as I hoped, but am I already looking forward to next year. The highlight of the trip was a great day at the Gold Beach South Jetty. Time to train and work on wave selection and timing on the wave for next year.

Heading out at the Gold Beach South Jetty

Down The Line at the Gold Beach South Jetty – a ride like this can make all the miles and waiting worth it

I had been dreaming about sailing Ho’okipa since I started windsurfing around 12 years old. I remember watching the video “Ho’okipa Chronicles” and scoring those sweet waves! Well after about 20 years of dreaming I scored my session!

Towards the end of July, Leah, Kaia (Our Dog) and I headed down to Oregon for a little over a week of windsurfing in Hood River and the Oregon Coast. We hit a massive heat wave of 40c, and some awesome winds gusting to 40knots while we where in Hood River. By the time we headed to the coast the heat had killed the wind and I only managed one marginal day in Florence.

Travel and tourism greatly impact developing countries. I’ve seen quite a bit with relatively little travel. Hotels in Mexico left abandoned half way through development to towns built around windsurfing and kiteboarding in Brazil. Problems included packed with tourist on and off the water, and garbage littering the beach, surprisingly a lot of garbage was from local tourists. I’ve also experienced bad sewage run off and pollution in first World locations.

This video “Surfing for Change: Travel Guide To Nicaragua” by Kyle Thiermann takes a look at sustainable surf tourism in Nicaragua, and a brief look at some of the issues that plagued other spots. What I found really interesting with the theory of the evolution of a tourism spot. From the trailblazers, to backpackers, followed mainstream travel and then followed at some point by a decline.

Club Ventos Icaraizinho really is a windsurfing paradise, and I’m glad to be here. Enjoy the short video featuring local conditions, and the life you can enjoy on vacation or living here for several months.

So after a long flight well 3 and 24 hours in airports I arrived in Fortaleza Airport. I saw the Club Ventos sign and headed over to the driver. He Didn’t speak any English, and I didn’t speak any Portuguese, but we soon managed to communicate we where waiting for two more people coming on the transfer to Icaraizinho. After 3 hours of waiting they finally arrived, but without there bags, after an hour or so of trying to sort that out we where finally on our way. In about 2 hours we arrived in Icaraizhino, where I was greeted by my boss and a few others from Club Ventos. Had a quick beer and I was ready to crash. The high humidity kept me from sleeping the first night but I quickly adjusted.

I’ve been here for just seven days. The wind has been light, quite unusual weather for here. I’ve sailed a total of seven days, on sizes from 6.2 to 5.1. Several days I was under powered. Today the weather got back on its normal pattern, and looks like it will be increasing over the next few days, and I’m quite excited. I had my best session on the trip today on a 5.9 throwing big airs of the waves on the reef, working on duck jibes, and even attempting one forward. Which I should be completing any day now.

The waves on the reef do far have been quite small, but I’ve been told they can get about head high to a little higher. I can’t wait for that. Inside the reef there is a nice flat water zone for ripping jibes and working on freestyle maneuvers.

Pictures will come soon, and I’ll work on some video but the internet is quite slow here, and cuts out when ever the phone rings. So check back for some awesome pictures and videos from a windsurfing paradise! As well sorry for my possibly horrible grammar and spelling, I think I’m forgetting it even more as I try to learn Brazilian Portuguese.

Leaving today for Icaraizinho Brazil! I’ll be there for just over 3 months instructing and windsurfing at Club Ventos Icaraizinho. A little bit about it from the Club Ventos site

Located at 190 Km from Fortaleza, more precise at the West Coast of Ceara State, this little village it’s not yet known by common tourists, but just discovered by kite and windsurfers whom have found this spot, where on-shore wind blows around 20 – 30 knots per day, during almost the whole year.

As there is not much of a night life, what you can expect to do is sailing, go fishing with the natives and rest under the coconut palms. It’s the ultimate vacation!

Icarazinho offers a diverse and amazing windsurfing spot (or spots). It reminds a lot of Jericoacoara, as both places are situated in bays with specific wave points. ClubVentos Icarazinho center has its porch right on the beach on the upwind side of the bay, just next to the point.

You will find a big flat water area by the center, which is protected by a reef. During low tide the reef sticks up outside this area and stops nearly all water movement , and you will have the whole bay as a perfect freeride / freestyle area. Most part of the inner bay is waist / shoulder deep which makes it a perfect beginner spot, especially during the mornings with lighter winds. As the tide raises smaller waves appear which are perfect for easy wave practice.

Three minutes upwind sailing from the freeride / freestyle area you will find Icarazinho’s wave spot. A reef, combined with fishermen’s old wood logs creates a break for the more advance waverider / jumper. Brawzinho and Kauli had no problem doing double forwards during our stop here in December.

I’m looking forward to ripping it up! Feel free to drop me a line if you’re going to be there, or come down and visit!! Also hoping to have lots of posts from there with videos, and pictures! so check back often!!